“If I didn’t have gashes in my feet, I’d get up right now to hug you.” My words are sincere. “Thanks to you, I’m alive.”
Bebe waves her hand, shaking her head again. “It was a definite team effort.”
Tilting my head, I study this woman who’s been pretty much locked away for the past seven years without any real human contact because she was in solitary. She is so kind, loyal, and empathetic. She’s gone above and beyond to work to save a woman she doesn’t even know. And I have to think there are remarkable things coming down the line for a woman such as this.
“Thank you, Bebe.” There’s no mistaking the gratefulness in my voice. “You are a true treasure to Kynan and Jameson Force Security. I can never repay you for what you did for me.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that,” Kynan says as he walks up to my chair. He bends, scoops me up in his arms, then positions himself to sit in my place, settling me squarely on his lap. He nods at Bebe. “She’s getting a huge bonus.”
Bebe holds up her water bottle in salute. “I am not going to say no to that.”
I swear the cue could not have been any more perfect, because at that moment, my doorbell rings. I can’t help but smile at what I know is on the other side. It’s better than any bonus Bebe could get.
Today is the day her mom and son are coming to visit. Of course, Kynan did not account for the fact she would hop on a jet plane with Jerico and Rachel and screw up his glorious plans for an emotional, heartfelt reunion. When he saw Bebe in the emergency room lobby, he immediately got busy changing plans.
Kynan worked his magic, managing to get Bebe’s family on the next private plane out of Las Vegas to Santa Barbara.
Cruce must be in on what is going on because he immediately goes to the front door, just out of sight from where I’m sitting. Bebe doesn’t even know anything is going on. She and Lynn are casually chatting. I see Cruce walking into the great room. He comes up behind Bebe, followed by a woman who looks exactly like her daughter. Raven-black hair worn in a shoulder-length bob with the same high cheekbones and delicate nose as Bebe. And right behind her is a miniature duplicate of Bebe herself. Her son has the same bluish-black hair and crystal blue eyes as his mother.
My own eyes immediately fill up with tears, knowing what an emotional reunion this is going to be. Unfortunately, Bebe happens to glance at me as I start crying and becomes alarmed.
“Are you okay, Joslyn?” she asks, starting to rise from the couch.
Kynan just chuckles, and Bebe glares at him for his supposed insensitivity.
I can’t help myself, so I nod toward her mom and son who are standing just behind the couch. “You have someone here to see you.”
Bebe turns around slowly. The minute her eyes land on her mom and son, she falls to her knees and starts sobbing. Of course, I lose my shit and do the same. Lynn also starts crying. Kynan just groans, hugging me tightly.
Bebe doesn’t stay down, though. Her excitement has her immediately popping up with tears streaming down her face. She rushes around the couch where she scoops her son into her arms. Holding him tight, she buries her face in his neck. Her mother approaches, then works her way into the family embrace. They hug each other for the longest time while plenty of tears are shed. I turn sideways to cuddle against Kynan, and he squeezes me sweetly.
Eventually, Bebe is able to regain her composure to make introductions all the way around. She brings her mother and son up to my chair, and I feel stupid for not being able to get up. Kynan, though, seems completely comfortable with the way things are. We both shake Bebe’s mom’s hand, and Gloria Grimshaw profusely thanks Kynan for arranging this trip. Then Bebe puts her hands on her son’s shoulders. At just nine years old, it’s obvious Aaron Grimshaw is going to be a good-looking man when he grows up. Right now, though, he is incredibly shy as his mom makes the introductions. But adorably, he musters up enough courage to look Kynan in the eye and say, “Thank you for getting my mom out of prison.”
There is no hiding the emotion in Kynan’s voice when he tells Aaron gruffly, “No problem, kid.”
Bebe moves off to make further introductions. Lynn vacates the couch, then totters into the kitchen. It leaves Kynan and me alone in the great room, snuggled in the big overstuffed chair with his long legs crossed on the ottoman. I burrow in deeper to his side and whisper, “I have a confession to make.”